Interconnecting means for modular closed louver panel system

ABSTRACT

A translucent or transparent lighting panel incorporating adjacent cell members and a planar backing sheet covering one end of each of the cells. The backing sheet extends laterally beyond the cells along at least one edge of the panel, and preferably along two adjacent edges, and is provided with a plurality of short circular flanges extending from the sheet in the same direction as the cells and in the same pattern. The outer diameter of such flanges is substantially equal to the inner diameters of the cells. At the opposite edge or edges of the panel the sheet is omitted, leaving a row of open cells. A plurality of panels may then be interconnected by positioning a row of open cells on one panel over the sheet flanges on an adjacent panel.

United States Patent 1 1 t [111 3,708,381

Schwartz 7 14 1 Jan. 2, 1973 [54] INTERCONNECTING MEANS FOR 470,3773/1892 Graham ..52 292 x MODULAR CLOSED LOUVER PANEL SYSTEM PrimaryExaminer-William .1 Van Balen [76] inventor: Robert A. n. Schwartz, s13lnde- Ammekflamszimmerma pendent St., Oakland, Calif. 94621 [57]ABSTRACT [22] Filed: July 6, 1970 A translucent or transparent lightingpanel incorporat- PP NOJ 52,656 ing adjacent cell members and a planarbacking sheet covering one end of each of the cells. The backing 52 US.Cl. ..l61/44, 52/588, 52/592, Sheet efiends laterally beyond the cellsalong at least 161/69, 161/139, 240/9 R, 240/78 one edge of the panel,and preferably along two ad- [51] Int. Cl .'...E04c 1/54 j c g and isprovided with a plurality of short [58] Field of Search ..52/592, 588;240/9, 160, 78, circular flanges extending from the sheet in the same240/9 R; 161/139, 407,44, 69 direction as the cells and in the samepattern. The outer diameter of such flanges is substantially equal to[56] References Cited the inner diameters of the cells. At the oppositeedge or edges of the panel the sheet is omitted, leaving a UNITED STATESPATENTS row of open cells. A plurality of panels may then be 3,531,90210/1970 Da Costa "52/588 interconnected by positioning a row of opencells on 3,411,261 11/1968 Soddy 2,860,237 11/1958 Bakeretal.

.... ..52/588 one panel over the sheet flanges on an adjacent panel.....240/9 X 1,223,266 4/1917 Dyer ..52/592 X 4 Claims, 6 Drawing FiguresIll 11 l l k 1 1M I 22 I 20 26 a2 5, l 1 20 H 18 \J 16 Y l6 PATENTEIJJAHI975 3.708.381

1 llil I111 F|G 6 IO T) VENT ROBERT .SCHWA 2 TTORN EY INTERCONNECTINGMEANS FOR MODULAR CLOSED LOUVER PANEL SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONhave been successfully marketed, but after further study and analysis,it has been found that the joint between adjacent panels presentedcertain problems.

First, the open cells along one or two edges of the backing sheet wereprovided with an inwardly directed flange along the upper edge, i.e.,the edge adjacent the backing sheet. When the projecting backing sheetportion is placed in overlying relation to such flanges, a relativelylarge interface surface is created which results in an interfaceinefficiency. Such inefficiency is demonstrated by a loss of lighttransmission at the interface surface and the creation of shadows on theinterior cell walls. Since it is desirable that a substantially uniformlight transmission be effected, such construction presents a problem.

Also, in this prior art device, when two adjacent panels were placed ininterfitting relationship, relative displacement in the plane of thepanels was prevented only in one direction, namely along the length ofthe adjacent panel edges. However, the joint did not preventdisplacement in a normally related direction and load-bearing clips wererequired to prevent such movement.

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, the jointcreated provides for a lesser interface surface between adjacent panels,thus increasing light transmission and efficiency, and eliminatingdarkened areas at the interface and on the interior walls of the cellsat the joint. At the same time, the means for interconnecting adjacentpanels not only prevents relative displacement along the juncture lineof such panels, as in the prior device, but also locks the panelsagainst displacement in a direction normal thereto. Thus, if clips areused, a substantial redirection of the clip load is effected.

THE DRAWING DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The panel of thepresent invention is generally indicated by the numeral 12 and includesa planar backing sheet 14 and a plurality of adjacent and adjoiningcells 16 extending from the lower surface 18 of the sheet. Sheet 14 andcells 16 are preferably integrally molded from a transparent ortranslucent plastic material and is normally positioned in a roombeneath a lighting fixture of fixtures with the cells 16 extendingdownwardly. The cells are illustrated as cylindrical in shape, but itwill be apparent that other symmetrical shapes could be used withoutdeparting from the scope of this invention.

More specifically, each of the cells 16 comprise cylindrical walls 20which extend downwardly from sheet surface 18, and the cells arepositioned in tangential relationship to provide normally extending rowsacross substantially the entire surface 18. At the point of tangentialjuncture of adjacent cells, a uniform wall thickness is maintained. Itmay also be noted that where each cell 16 joins sheet 14, a reinforcingflange 22 is provided which extends radially inwardly.

Two or more panels are adapted to be joined together to provide acomplete ceiling system. Accordingly, the backing sheet 14, along twoadjacent edges, has planar extensions 24 protruding beyond the last rowor columns of cells, such extensions generally conforming in plan to thecylindrical cell pattern. As shown, each extension 24 has a downwardlydirected flange or ring 26 which forms one portion of the interfit withan adjacent panel, as will be presently described. These rings 26 are ofthe same size and shape as the reinforcing flanges 22. The outermostedges of the extensions have a convex semi-circular shape 28. Othersides of the panel, which are intended to mate with such extensions 24are indicated in the right hand panel of FIG. 1 along the left hand andbottom edges thereof. As there shown, a row of unbacked cells 16aproject laterally beyond the end of the sheet 14, such cells 16a beingcompletely open and extending to the plane of the lower surface 18 ofthe sheet. This results in an arcuate slot 30 extending around each opencell 16a in the sheet 14.

From the foregoing description which is directed primarily to theapparatus as disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, it will beappreciated how the panels are joined together, as shown in FIG. 3. Theextensions 24 are placed in overlying relation to the open cells 16a andthe rings 26 telescopically inserted into such cells. The arcuateportion 32 of the sheet extension which projects beyond the ring willengage the slot 30 of the adjacent panel. In this manner, the sheets 14of the adjacent panels will form a continuous and usually uninterruptedmember, and the insertion of the rings 26 into the open cells willsecurely lock the panels against relative displacement in the plane ofthe panels. Also, since the interface surfaces of adjacent panels is nogreater than in the main portion of the panel, no excessive darkening iscreated at the" juncture and no shadows on the inner walls of the nowclosed open cells 16a result.

Such arrangement can be readily compared to the prior art deviceillustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. As there shown, the outer row of opencells are each provided with an inwardly directed flange 36 at the upperedge thereof. The extensions 24 of the other panel have a flat undersurface which overlies the open cells. The curved edges 28 of theextensions still seat in a slot 30 which prevents relative displacementin a direction along the joint, but there is no means for preventingdisplacement of straight separation, i.e., in a direction at rightangles to the joint line. Also, as seen in FIG. 6,

the area of interface of the two panels is greater than with thearrangement of FIG. 3 of the present invention, resulting in the abovedescribed darkened areas and shadows.

Since the previously mentioned patent discloses other details of thepanels and their use, it is not believed necessary to give any furtherexplanatory information herein.

lclaim:

l. A construction planar panel interlockable with a plurality ofsubstantially identical panels to form a planar panel system,comprising: a continuous planar backing sheet having at least two edgesin a first plane; a plurality of first cells in a fixed pattern havingperipheral closed walls and opposed ends, said first cells extendinggenerally perpendicularly from said backing sheet intermediate saidedges and in a second plane, with said backing sheet completely closingone end of each of said first cells; a plurality of second cells havingopposed open ends, substantially identical in shape to, in the samepattern as and parallel to said first cells being along one of saidbacking sheet edges, and said second cells extending laterally beyondsaid backing sheet one edge in said second plane; said backing sheethaving a plurality of planar extensions forming the other of saidbacking sheet edges and extending beyond said first cells generally asfar as said second cells extend beyond said first edge in the directionof said plane, and said planar extensions conforming to the pattern tocompletely overlie and close the corresponding one end of the secondcells of a second substantially identical panel; all of said first andsecond cells and said backing sheet being integrally connected together;a plurality of flange means generally perpendicularly extending fromsaid backing sheet planar extensions in the same plane as said cells andbeing shaped to engage the peripheral walls of the second cells of asecond panel for positively preventing relative movement between saidplanar extensions and the second cells of the second panel in the planeof their backing sheets when the panels are assembled with their backingsheets coextensive and one edge of one backing sheet being immediatelyadjacent the other edge of the other backing sheet.

2. The panel of claim 1, including a plurality of reinforcing flangeswithin said second plane, substantially identical to said flange means,being integrally connected with said backing sheet to extend generallyperpendicularly from said backing sheet in the direction of said cellsand respectively being integral with said peripheral walls of said firstcells.

3. The panel of claim 2, wherein each of said first and second cells aresubstantially cylindrical; and said flange means are telescopicallyreceivable within respective second cells of the second panel, whenassembled.

4. The panel of claim 1, wherein said first and second cells aresubstantially cylindrical; and said flange means are of substantiallyidentical cylindrical shape telescopically receivable within respectivesecond cells of the second panel, when assembled.

1. A construction planar panel interlockable with a plurality ofsubstantially identical panels to form a planar panel system,comprising: a continuous planar backing sheet having at least two edgesin a first plane; a plurality of first cells in a fixed pattern havingperipheral closed walls and opposed ends, said first cells extendinggenerally perpendicularly from said backing sheet intermediate saidedges and in a second plane, with said backing sheet completely closingone end of each of said first cells; a plurality of second cells havingopposed open ends, substantially identical in shape to, in the samepattern as and parallel to said first cells being along one of saidbacking sheet edges, and said second cells extending laterally beyondsaid backing sheet one edge in said second plane; said backing sheethaving a plurality of planar extensions forming the other of saidbacking sheet edges and extending beyond said first cells generally asfar as said second cells extend beyond said first edge in the directionof said plane, and said planar extensions conforming to the pattern tocompletely overlie and close the corresponding one end of the secondcells of a second substantially identical panel; all of said first andsecond cells and said backing sheet being integrally connected together;a plurality of flange means generally perpendicularly extending fromsaid backing sheet planar extensions in the same plane as said cells andbeing shaped to engage the peripheral walls of the second cells of asecond panel for positively preventing relative movement between saidplanar extensions and the second cells of the second panel in the planeof their backing sheets when the panels are assembled with their backingsheets coextensive and one edge of one backing sheet being immediatelyadjacent the other edge of the other backing sheet.
 2. The panel ofclaim 1, including a plurality of reinforcing flanges within said secondplane, substantially identical to said flange means, being integrallyconnected with said backing sheet to extend generally perpendicularlyfrom said backing sheet in the direction of said cells and respectivelybeing integral with said peripheral walls of said first cells.
 3. Thepanel of claim 2, wherein each of said first and second cells aresubstantially cylindrical; and said flange means are telescopicallyreceivable within respective second cells of the second panel, whenassembled.
 4. The panel of claim 1, wherein said first and second cellsare substantially cylindrical; and said flange means are ofsubstantially identical cylindrical shape telescopically receivablewithin respective second cells of the second panel, when assembled.